A customer told me they have Madeira every year, as a tribute to Thomas Jefferson. I usually drink a bottle of French wine to commemorate the French contributions, or our local Chateau Lafayette Reneau wine (French name). This year I'm having cigars with my Brother in Laws so any wine will taste like paste so I'm thinking Budweiser is in my future.

It looks like the picnic at a local park will be rained out,so folks may be stopping by here for re-heated NiagaraCOOL leftovers. I'll probably open a bottle of my bubbly and a few other assorted wines.

I'm having about 40 people over, and will be putting out various bottles of inexpensive but good wine--Cline Ancient Vine Zin, Acacia A Chardonnay, Mission Hills SLC Syrah (that I got for $5/bottle). All entirely drinkable if not a highlight of my day. Guests will most likely all bring contributing bottles. Might have to pull a Nixon and stash a Margaux under the table!

My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov

Howie Hart wrote:It looks like the picnic at a local park will be rained out,so folks may be stopping by here for re-heated NiagaraCOOL leftovers. I'll probably open a bottle of my bubbly and a few other assorted wines.

I'l be there in eight hours! Will there be any homemade wine? Chill the sparkler for Jeannette!

Just dreamin'

Yes, and how many deaths will it take 'til he knowsThat too many people have died?The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the windThe answer is blowin' in the wind.

Jenise wrote:I'm having about 40 people over, and will be putting out various bottles of inexpensive but good wine--Cline Ancient Vine Zin, Acacia A Chardonnay, Mission Hills SLC Syrah (that I got for $5/bottle). All entirely drinkable if not a highlight of my day. Guests will most likely all bring contributing bottles. Might have to pull a Nixon and stash a Margaux under the table!

What are you cooking for 40 people?

We are meeting some friends for a movie and then going back to their home for leftover chicken and brisket. I'm bringing potato salad that I made this morning. Usually, I bring the wine, but they have a Turley zin they would like to serve. It's the first time in a long time that I'm not bringing a bottle or two with me to their house. It feels strange.

Just in from a 2000 mile drive accomplished in 2 days, so I'm sticking close to home tonight (I am NOT getting back in that car!). Happily, before I left NM some weeks ago, I tucked a bottle of that wonderful ESJ Gamay Rosé in the fridge.

So far, I've had a Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin from Lodi and a Bray Vineyards Rosato of Barbera. (The Rosato was delicious, the zin not bad.) I supplied a bottle of our homemade sangiovese which was well-received.

I brought a Domaine Dupeuble 2005 Beaujolais to our block party. Overall, I found it enjoyable, a bright, fruity, floral, simple Beaujolais, but I could almost swear I detected a banana note to it. This is a Kermit Lynch import, I can't believe he would bring in a wine made with the same yeast Duboeuf was notorious for using. Maybe I just imagined it. Anyway, it was fine for its purposes, though in the category of cheap 2005 Beaujolais, I much preferred the Manoir du Carra which I had a couple of weeks ago. I should note I haven't opened my Bruns yet.